Arun/Newindpress

Bangalore, Oct 16: Political parties, which have no other work as the Assembly is kept under suspended animation, are now looking at the people, lest the elections may descend on them any moment.

An era of Yatre has begun in Karnataka with both BJP and JD(S) going on a tour in the state seperately. Even Mahima Patel, who resigned JD(S) as its MLA, has planned a Yatre in Karnataka.

Interestingly, all have been trying to woo Lingayats, a dominant community in Karnataka, which was hurt after JD(S) leaders H D Kumaraswamy and his father Deve Gowda refused to transfer power to BJP leader Yediyurappa early this month.

Bharatiya Janata Party state unit, bitten by JD(S) repeatedly during its desperate run for power, had strated its Dharma Yatre. Beginning from Siddaganga Mutt near Tumkur, after taking the blessings of the seer there, the BJP concluded its first leg of Yatre at Shimoga after visiting Davanagere, Mangalore and Chikmagalur.

In its second leg of Yatre, which began on Monday in Haveri, the BJP leaders plan to visit Belgaum, Bagalkot, Bijapru, Bidar, Gulbarga, Raichur, Koppal and conclude it in Bellary.

Kumaraswamy, who earned the wrath of the Lingayats by not transferring power to Yediyurappa, a Lingayat, has to soothen the hurt feelings of that community. In their rage, many Veerashaiva organisations have burnt the effigy of Kumaraswamy, protesting against his failure to transfer power to Yediyurappa.

Now, Kumaraswamy, according to his own announcement, will be taking out a Pada Yatre from Basava Kalyan, a pilgrim centre for Lingayats. The Yatre would conclude at Mahadeswara Hills after walking a total distance of around 1,000 Kms. However, he has not specified the date on which his Yatre will begin.

Mahima Patel, who quit JD(S) protesting Kumaraswamy for not keeping up his (Kumarawamy's) promise to transfer power to Yediyurappa has announced in Hubli that he would start his Pada Yatre within next fortnight to garner support to his new found political outfit 'Suvarna Yuga'. Interestingly, he made this announcement after taking the blessings of the seer in Siddarudha Mutt, a Lingayat religious centre, in Hubli.

Whether these Yatres converge at one point or not, at lest the aims of these Yatres converge at one point - wooing Lingayats.